One simple way to feel more grateful
I know it can be easy to move from one thing to next, one goal to the next, one year to the next. It’s in our nature to always be looking ahead, marking accomplishments off our to-do list then moving to the next one.
In this video, I want to share one simple way that you can tap into the gratitude of everything you experienced this year – the love, the opportunities, the blessing – before just jumping into the next set of goals. So come with me and let’s talk about how powerful this gratitude practice can be!
You can probably relate to that sense of moving from one thing to the next, and it’s all about accomplishing more! But, if you’re like me, I’m guilty of not really pausing to reflect on all the things I’ve accomplished. I’m all about what’s next – barely giving pause, yet alone gratitude to what I have achieved.
It’s so important, though, that we take time to reflect back – not always forward – because if we don’t we lose the connection to joy, and peace and all the growth that we have accomplished. There’s no better time of year to move forward from a place of gratitude.
So, here’s one practice that I use to make sure I’m not just zipping through life disconnected. I create a Gratitude Board. Have you heard of a vision board where you take images of the things you want and post them up? Well, a gratitude board is the same concept, but you take images of the things you have achieved and past them up to see too.
And this can be incredibly powerful! Gratitude can help you experience:
- More positive emotions
- Improve your relationships
- Lower your blood pressure
- Strengthen connection to a force that is bigger than ourselves
- Increase our emotional intelligence
- Decrease stress
- And, even in some studies, make you more likely to exercise!
It has a magnitude of benefits for body, mind and your spirituality. I can’t think of a better way to show up for my life than in this state. If you agree, try making a gratitude board over the next couple of days.
It’s simple, reflect back on the year. It helps me to start by finding one good for every month, over the last 12 months. And look, I’ve been right there with you in 2020…even when my pay was cut significantly, I was still grateful I had a roof over my head and a loving partner to wake up to. There is always something good that can be found, even in years like the ones we just had.
As you reflect, find images that represent those experiences, people or things. I got to spend more time with my family than I usually do, so put up a picture of your family. You can either print off images and place them on a posterboard or, I like to use Canva to make an electronic copy and write “Grateful” at the top. I paste all my images into a canva design and print it so that I can put it next to my vision board. And then you can even put it as the background image on your phone or computer.
Either way, take a moment to reflect on the things that you are grateful for. Despite loss and hardship in my own life, I’m looking forward with peace and joy in my heart and I hope you are too.
If you want some help getting into that gratitude state, check out the free guided meditation on my website carisafindley.com. I love to practice a meditation first, to help me tap into my highest self.
